Record Details

NHER Number:

4276

Type of record:

Monument

Name:

The Main Guard

Summary

During the 16th or 17th century a mound was constructed on top of the rampart behind the medieval town wall (NHER 4294). In the 18th century there was a gun emplacement on the mound. The mound was removed in 1974 and post medieval pottery and leather were found.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:

TG 525 076

Map Sheet:

TG50NW

Parish:

GREAT YARMOUTH, GREAT YARMOUTH, NORFOLK

Full description

The Main Guard or The Mount. A military fortification added behind the town wall in the ?16th century.Removed in 1974 (town wall exposed behind). Makeup continued for more than 2m below present ground level. Post medievalsherds in Mount itself, leather finds below.S. Dunmore (NAU), April 1974.

Gomme's map of 1688 (S1) dates it to 1650. E. Rose.

See (S2) for decription of an 'area enclosed by a mound behind the wall'. Tom Martin about 1740 (S3) noted guns on this mound - see NHER 4294 for full quotation.E. Rose (NAU), 7 June 1982.

The main guard was indeed fortified in 1650 but was originally part of a bank behind the walls made in 1587. See (S4).

However (S5) gives yet a third version by saying it was a Citadel made in 1626.E. Rose (NAU), 5 November 1998.

March 2009. Watching Brief.Contexts 1-3 used.A hole excavated for a new sign post adjacent to the north-western corner of the wall end did not expose any original wall material.See report (S6) for further information.A. Cattermole (NLA), 1 July 2009.